Context Enabled Address Selection

ABSTRACT

A system allows a user to select an individual address from the multiple addresses for additional information on that particular address. Multiple addresses can be viewed together on a map for selection purposes. Selection of a particular address can trigger new GUIs for presentation of context information for a particular location to a user. Context information can include differing map views, e.g., map view, satellite view, terrain view, etc., landmarks, photos taken from that particular address, local businesses, telephone numbers for that particular address, etc. Presentation of context information can assist a user in making a more informed decision as to which addresses from multiple presented possible addresses to select. Context information provide criteria to select and/or rule out a particular address.

The present application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication 61/064,985, entitled “CONTEXT ENABLED ADDRESS SELECTION” toGill et al., filed Apr. 7, 2008, the entirety of which is expresslyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wireless telecommunication,navigation, and geocoding. More particularly, it relates to locationbased services, and more particularly to navigation using location basedservices.

2. Background of the Related Art

When using a directions or navigation application, the destination for aroute or point of interest search must be accurate to be useful. Howevermany addresses within a city or region may be very similar andoccasionally they can only be differentiated by postal codes,information that may not be available to the user. In addition users mayonly know the street name, or may have the number of the buildingincorrect. Once they have provided the information available to amapping server, several addresses may be returned from which the usermust select the correct one. Since the user may not be able todistinguish the correct one, they must either guess and take the chanceof going far out of their way or give up. Even the most user friendlymapping server can't solve this problem if it must rely on providingonly text information.

Products are conventionally available that provide basic geocodingfunctionality, e.g., TeleNav, Garmin, VZ Navigator, and SprintNavigator. Web site products include maps.google.com; maps.yahoo.com;and maps.live.com.

However, with respect to existing applications, if an address doesn'thave an exact match in the mapping server, the user is provided with alist of possible matches that resemble the entered information in someway. The conventional systems attempt to find close matches to help auser, but nothing more than a text list of addresses is provided to theuser.

FIG. 9 shows conventional graphic user interface (GUI) designs forallowing a user to enter an address of interest, displaying results forthat entered address, and displaying directions to that entered address.

In particular, as show in FIG. 9, a user is presented with a firstgraphic user interface (GUI) 910 for entering a city name and statename. Upon completion of the city name and state name, a user can choosethe “select” option to proceed to the second GUI 920.

Second GUI 920 allows a user to enter additional information to completethe entry of an address of interest. Second GUI 920 allows a user toenter a street number and street name. As shown in GUI 920, manyconventional systems allow a user to enter a partial street name, thepartial street name is used to provide a user with a list of streetnames that may complete the partially entered address of interest. Uponcompletion of the street number and street name, a user choose the“select” option to proceed to the third GUI 930.

Third GUI 930 provides an indication to a user that the user's enteredcriteria for an address of interest results in multiple matches. Theuser is further given an indication that the user will be presented witha list of the multiple matches from which to select an address ofinterest for their route destination.

Fourth GUI 940 provides a textual list of multiple addresses to a userthat match criteria entered in GUIs 910 and 920. A user selects a singleaddress from the list of multiple addresses. Upon selection of a singlestreet number and street name, a user can choose the “select” option toproceed to fifth GUI 950.

Following a list of multiple addresses given to a user that matchcriteria entered in GUIs 910 and 920, a fifth GUI 950 provides anindication that the current position of the user's navigation device isbeing determined. A progress bar is often used to indicate the amount ofprogress made toward determining a current position of a user'snavigation device.

Sixth GUI 960 provides a user with a graphic view of their currentposition, often indicated with an icon of an automobile, and theiraddress of interest, often indicated with an icon of a house. Acalculated route is shown between the automobile icon and the house iconindicating a route that the user will be guided over.

Following a graphic view of a route from their current position andtheir address of interest, seventh GUI 970 provides a user with routeguidance information indicating distances to turns, street names forturns, direction to turn, time traveled, estimated time of arrival,total distance, current location along a route, etc. Such informationallows a user to easily navigate to their address of interest.

The disadvantage of the current technology is that a user searching foran address of interest may not have enough information to be able toproperly choose which address from multiple returned addresses iscorrect. The multiple returned addresses given to a user lack any typeof context with which a user can make an informed choice.

There is a need for an improved method by which a user is able to selectan address of interest from a list of multiple returned addresses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the invention, a method andapparatus for providing context information for a geographic locationcomprises initiating a database query for a supplied search criteria. Aplurality of geographic locations are found that match the searchcriteria, or if no exact match is found, a plurality that are closematches. Mapping data is provided that comprises the plurality ofgeographic locations. An option to view context information is providedfor at least one of the plurality of geographic locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following description with referenceto the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a system for selecting an address of interest from aplurality of possible addresses within context of its location, inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying how auser would search for a destination address and would be provided agraphic map showing multiple matches resulting from the user suppliedaddress of interest, in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying how auser would view a list of close address matches when there is no matchfor the user entered address and how the user can chose to see theaddress on a map with context information.

FIG. 4 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying how auser would select to receive details about a particular destinationaddress from multiple destination addresses resulting from the usersupplied destination address, in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying how auser can switch between a textual list of multiple destination addressesresulting from the user supplied destination address and a graphicalrepresentation thereof; and how a user can call a telephone numberassociated with a selected address, in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying how auser can view information for exemplary context landmarks and localbusinesses, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying variousdifferent types of context map views, in accordance with the principlesof the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary method of providing a graphic map thatdisplays multiple addresses, in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 shows conventional graphic user interface (GUI) designs forallowing a user to enter an address of interest, displaying results forthat entered address, and displaying directions to that entered address.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The inventors herein have recognized that commercially availableproducts do not provide a contextual technique for comparing a pluralityof addresses. The present invention provides context information toassist a user in choosing a correct address: a map with multiplepossible addresses marked to provide geographic context for comparison,the addition of landmarks and nearby businesses marked on the map, andimages of the nearby locations, e.g., pictures taken from a location ofinterest, for more visual context. All of this context informationassists a user in determining a desired address from multiple addressespresented to the user.

A user is able to select an individual address from the multipleaddresses for additional information on that particular address.Selection of a particular address can trigger new GUIs for presentationof context information for a particular location to a user. Contextinformation can include differing map views, e.g., map view, satelliteview, terrain view, etc., landmarks, local businesses, photos takenfrom, nearby or above that particular address, telephone numbers forthat particular address, etc. Presentation of context information canassist a user in making a more informed decision as to which addressesfrom multiple presented possible addresses to select. Contextinformation provides criteria to select and/or rule out a particularaddress.

Upon a user selecting an individual address from multiple presentedaddresses, the user is presented with a view of their current positionand their address of interest and/or route guidance information.

FIG. 1 shows a system for selecting an address of interest from aplurality of possible addresses within context of its location, inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, a system 100 for selecting an addressof interest from a plurality of possible addresses within context of itslocation can include various wireless devices that can displaynavigation information, such as a cellular telephone 110, a personaldata assistant 120, a laptop computer 130.

Any of wireless devices 110, 120 and 130 can be used to allow a user toenter an address of interest into a GUI. The address of interest data ispackaged into one or more data packets for transmission over thewireless network 140 to navigation server 150, as is known within theart.

A wireless network 140 allows the various wireless devices tocommunicate with a navigation server 150. Any wireless network can beemployed that allows data communications for the transfer of navigationdata between a wireless device 110, 120 and 130 and a navigation server150.

The address of interest data is received by navigation server 150.Navigation server 150 formulates a database query with the address ofinterest data received from any of wireless device 110, 120 and 130. Thedatabase query is submitted by the navigation server 150 to thenavigation database 160 to search the content of navigation database 160for entries that match the address of interest data, as is known withinthe art.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, if theaddress of interest transmitted by any of wireless devices 110, 120 and130 results in multiple addresses being returned from navigationdatabase 160, each of the multiple addresses returned from navigationdatabase 160 are transmitted back to any of the wireless devices 110,120 and 130. The multiple addresses are presented on a graphic view of amap together with options for a user to view context informationassociated with those multiple addresses. A graphic view of a map caninclude, e.g., a map view, a satellite view, a terrain view, etc. thatwill be show and discussed in more detail in relation to FIG. 6 below.

Any of wireless device 110, 120, or 130 submitting an address ofinterest to navigation server 150, receives the graphic view of a mapthat includes multiple icons for the multiple addresses that match anavigation database 160 query for the submitted address of interest.Each icon that matches the entered address of interest data can furtherinclude options to view additional context information associated withthat particular icon. Context information can include differing mapviews, e.g., map view, satellite view, terrain view, etc., landmarks,photos taken from that particular address, telephone numbers for thatparticular address, etc. Presentation of context information can assista user in making a more informed decision as to a particular destinationfrom the multiple addresses that match a navigation database 160 queryfor the submitted address of interest. Context information can assist auser in determining which of the possible multiple addresses to selectas a destination for calculation of route guidance information. Forexample, they may know that the address is near a landmark, a geographicfeature or a specific business. Additionally, or conversely, a user mayknow if the address is not near these things and thus rule out anincorrect address.

Selection of a particular destination from the multiple addresses thatmatch a navigation database 160 query for a submitted address ofinterest results in a user being presented with route guidanceinformation, as is known within the art. Route guidance information caninclude a graphic map showing lines representing a formulated route bynavigation server 150 and/or route guidance information. Route guidanceinformation includes distances to turns, street names for turns,direction to turn, time traveled, estimated time of arrival, totaldistance, current location along a route, etc., as shown in detail inGUI 270 Such information allows a user to easily navigate to theirdestination address of interest.

Although FIG. 1 exemplarily shows wireless devices 110, 120 and 130accessing a remote navigation server 150, the principles of the presentinvention apply equally to handheld navigation devices that have anavigation database 160 built into the device themselves. Accordingly,functions described herein as being performed by the navigation server150 accessing navigation database 160 would be performed by a handheldnavigation device itself without wirelessly transmitting an address ofinterest and wirelessly receiving navigation data from a navigationserver 150.

FIG. 2 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying how auser would search for a destination address and would be provided agraphic map showing multiple matches resulting from the user suppliedaddress of interest, in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

The drawings depicted in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention show GUIs exemplifying how a user would access and navigatecontextual information easily even in a small screened mobileapplication. However, the principles of the invention disclosed hereinapply equally to GUIs for accessing and navigating contextualinformation on any screen size for both mobile mapping applications andstationary web mapping sites, such as Mapquest, Google Maps, Yahoo!Maps, etc.

In particular, as show in FIG. 2, a user is presented with a firstgraphic user interface (GUI) 210 for entering a city name and statename. Upon completion of the city name and state name, a user can choosethe “select” option to proceed to second GUI 220.

Second GUI 220 allows a user to enter additional information to completean entry of an address of interest. Second GUI 220 allows a user toenter a street number and street name. As shown, many conventionalsystems allow a user to enter a partial street name, the partial streetname used to provide a user with a list of street names that may beincluded with an address of interest. Upon completion of the streetnumber and street name, a user can choose the “select” option to proceedto third GUI 230.

Third GUI 230 provides an indication to a user that the user's enteredcriteria for an address of interest resulted in multiple matches. Theuser is further given an indication that the user will be presented witha list of the multiple matches from which to select an address ofinterest as a route destination.

Fourth GUI 240 deviates from conventional textual listing of multipleaddresses. Instead, a user is provided with a graphic map with an iconfor each of the multiple addresses that resulted from the multiplematches indicated on GUI 230, shown as icons 241, 242 and 243. A usercan select any individual icon to receive context information for thatparticular location. Selecting an individual icon from the plurality oficons can be performed by various methods including, e.g., touching thescreen icon on a touch screen display, using a mouse, using arrow keys,using a tab key, using the number keypad, etc.

Selection of an individual icon from the plurality of icons that matchthe user's entered destination address results in GUI 250. GUI 250provides a user with a menu of context information that is available fora particular address from the multiple addresses resulting from thedestination address search performed with GUIs 210 and 220. Menu itemssuch as, e.g., Navigate To, Detail, List All, Hide Info, and Home, canbe displayed to assist a user in make an informed decision on aparticular destination address from the multiple possible destinationaddresses shown as icons 241, 242 and 243. Selection of Navigate To menuoption 1 results in GUI 260 being displayed for a user.

GUI 260 provides an indication that Navigation Server 150 is determininga current location for any of the wireless devices 110, 120 and 130.Determining a wireless device's location is well understood in the artand can be done through a number of means including GPS, assisted GPS,and RF triangulation. From the determination of a current location forany of the wireless devices 110, 120 and 130, Navigation Server 150performs a routing calculation between the selected destination from GUI250 and the determined current location of any of wireless devices 110,120 and 130. Routing guidance information is transmitted from thenavigation server 150 to any of the wireless devices 110, 120 and 130requesting routing information.

GUI 270 provides an indication of the route guidance information that isprovided by the navigation server 270. As is well known within the art,GUI 270 is continuously updated with new route guidance information asany of the wireless devices 110, 120 and 130 travel toward a destinationaddress.

FIG. 3 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying how auser may view a list of close address matches when there is no exactmatch for the user entered address and how the user can chose to see theaddress on a map with context information.

In particular, when a user entered address, as shown in GUI 310, has noexact match, multiple close matches may be provided in list form asshown in GUI 320 as is well known in the art. In accordance with thepresent invention, as shown in GUI 330, the user has access to menuoptions for each address and by choosing the Map option, the user cansee a particular address on a map containing landmarks and other contextinformation in addition to street and other standard geographicinformation as shown in GUI 340.

FIG. 4 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying how auser would select to receive details about a particular destinationaddress from multiple destination addresses resulting from the usersupplied destination address, in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, selection of Detail menu option 2 inGUI 410 results in GUI 420 being displayed for a user. As shown, adetailed map view for the selected icon is displayed for a user thatincludes context information such as a nearby hospital 421, a nearbytrain\bus\rail station 422, a museum 423, and an indication that photosare available, the photos taken from, nearby or above the selectedaddress.

Selection of an option to view a photo taken from the selected addressresults in display of GUIs 430 and 440. In this manner, a user caneither make a more informed decision that a particular address is acorrect destination and/or see that a destination is near duringtravels.

FIG. 5 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying how auser can switch between a textual list of multiple destination addressesresulting from the user supplied destination address and a graphicalrepresentation thereof and visa versa; and how a user can call atelephone number associated with a selected address, in accordance withthe principles of the present invention.

In particular, as show in FIG. 5, selection of “List All” menu option 3from GUI 510 being selected results in GUI 520 being displayed for auser. GUI 520 is a textual list of the multiple destination addressesresulting from the user supplied destination address. A user selecting“Map All” menu option 4 on GUI 520 results in GUI 530 being displayedfor a user, allowing the user to see all possible addresses matches incontext on the same map.

GUI 540 shows an additional “Call” menu option 3. Selection of the“Call” menu option 3 results in formulation of a query of navigationdatabase 160 by the navigation server 150 to search for a telephonenumber associated with a particular address. The telephone number istransmitted back to any of wireless devices 110, 120 and 130 through thewireless network 140. Any of wireless devices 110, 120 and 130 canreceive the telephone number and either manually or automaticallyinitiate a telephone call to the received telephone number.

FIG. 6 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying how auser can view information for exemplary context landmarks and localbusinesses, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 6, GUI 610 shows the address of currentinterest 611 and GUI 620 shows a local business nearby, 621, with itsaddress, which the user can select for further information or to call.GUI 630 shows a hospital landmark icon 631 that the user can select toreceive additional information or to call.

GUI 640 shows a sports stadium 641 and the menu options available to theuser for the selected item to receive details or to call.

GUIs 620, 630, and 640 extemporarily show context landmarks andbusinesses that include a hospital, a coffee shop, and a stadium.However, within the scope of the invention, any context landmark orother information with a latitude and longitude can be displayed thatassists a user in selecting an address of interest from multiplepresented addresses. Additional context landmarks can include natureparks, malls, shopping centers, amusement parks, police stations, firestations, zoos, metro stations, etc. In addition, personal informationthe user has available may also be shown, such as recent or favoriteaddresses or the locations of family or friends when available though afriend or family finder application

A user can select any of the icons from GUIs 620, 630 and 640 to receivecontext information for that particular location. Selecting anindividual icon from the plurality of icons can be performed by variousmethods including, e.g., touching the screen icon on a touch screendisplay, using a mouse, using arrow keys, using a tab key, using thenumber keypad, etc.

FIG. 7 shows graphic user interface (GUI) designs exemplifying variousdifferent types of context map views, in accordance with the principlesof the present invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 7, GUI 710 shows a context map view withan icon for each of the multiple addresses that resulted from themultiple matches, shown as icons 711, 712 and 713. A context map viewallows a user to easily view multiple addresses in an uncluttered streetlayout. Major bodies of water may be displayed, but minor bodies ofwater, such as smaller rivers are left off for clarity.

GUI 720 shows a context satellite view with an icon for each of themultiple addresses that resulted from the multiple matches, shown asicons 711, 712 and 713. A context satellite view is a satellite photothat includes all of the details aerially viewable within a given area.In some instances, a user may desire such an aerial view to assist inselecting a single address from the displayed icons 711, 712 and 713.

GUI 730 shows a context terrain view with an icon for each of themultiple addresses that resulted from the multiple matches, shown asicons 711, 712 and 713. A context terrain view shows only terraindetails, such as shading to represent land contours and both large andsmall bodies of water. A user in some instances may know that an addressof interest is near a certain elevation and/or near a body of water. Thecontext terrain view can assist a user in such instances.

To provide context for the multiple matches, shown as icons 711, 712 and713, a user can switch between any of the context map views shown in GUI710, the context satellite view shown in GUI 720, and the contextterrain view show in GUI 730. Although not shown, a user can select toview additional context information for exemplary landmarks on any ofGUIs 710, 720 and 730.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary method of providing a graphic map thatdisplays multiple addresses, in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

In particular, as shown in step 810 of FIG. 8, a user enters adestination address of interest into their wireless device.

In step 820, the user's entered destination address of interest issearched in navigation database 160, with the user notified thatmultiple addresses match the user's entered address of interest fromstep 810.

In step 830, navigation server 150 returns a graphic map that includesan icon for each of the multiple addresses matching the user's entereddestination address of interest from step 810. The graphic map and iconsare displayed on any of the wireless devices 110, 120 and 130 thatinitiated a destination address of interest search.

In step 840, a user is provided with options to display contextinformation associated with each of the icons presented to the user instep 830.

In step 850, any of the wireless devices 110, 120 and 130 reads a user'sselection of an icon. Selection of an icon represents a user's desire toselect an individual address from the multiple displayed destinationaddresses to receive route guidance information for.

In step 860, navigation server 150 receives the user's selection of adesired destination address from step 850. The navigation server 150further calculates a route from a current position any of the wirelessdevices 110, 120 and 130 initiating a request for route guidance and thereceived desired destination address.

In step 870, route guidance information formulated in step 860 istransmitted from the navigation server 150 to any of the wirelessdevices 110, 120 and 130 initiating a request for route guidance.

The inventive technology described herein can also be combined with whatis usually called friend and family finder functionality in which ageocoded location is provided for an individual. When viewing thelocation of the individual on the map, if the user is unfamiliar withthe map area, the assistance context described herein can help identifythe location in relation to more familiar landmarks.

In many countries outside North America, street addresses are notsequential and directions are provided by referring to landmarks ratherthan providing street names and numbers. This solution disclosed hereinfor contextual address searching provides additional benefits for usersof international mapping products since there is less useful addressinformation available in these countries.

The present invention has applicability with users of wireless maps, aswell as with the provision of directions, and navigation applications.It also has application with users of web applications that provide mapsand directions. The invention provides the ability to present multipleaddresses on a map as a result of multiple or inexact matches for auser's address search input. It also provides additional informationaround an address for the intention of providing context to aid in theuser's selection.

While the invention has been described with reference to the exemplaryembodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to makevarious modifications to the described embodiments of the inventionwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A method of providing context information for a geographic location,comprising: initiating a database query for supplied search criteria;receiving a plurality of geographic locations that match exactly orpartially said search criteria; providing mapping data, said mappingdata comprising said plurality of geographic locations; and providing anoption to view context information for at least one of said plurality ofgeographic locations. 2-20. (canceled)